I generally dislike optics on Leevers...

[Winelover]

I'm gonna tell! Winelover didn't have the trigger upgrade done . FWIW, the Streamlight TLR 7 or 8 fit P320 Compacts like they were born there. I especially like the new style switches on them. A friend also has one on an FN 509 MDR. They hold up well.

 

[Wiresguy]

That Turnbull Reflex base is what I mounted on my Taylor Chiappa ’92 Carbine in .357.

Well made, light weight, and works. I bought it mainly for testing loads for accuracy from the bench and it works fine for this as I am only shooting out to 50 yards. Venom Vortex sight mounted on it.

I stumbled across the Taylor ’92 at the LGS and was impressed with the quality over the Rossi’s I had previously owned. Plus I just can’t get past the safety on the top of the bolt on the Rossi, though there are work arounds for that.

Two things I don’t like about the Taylor ’92 Carbine are the sights and that the receiver is not drilled and tapped for a receiver sight, my preferred rear sight on a lever gun.

I had decided to order another brand reflex base, but found the Turnbull and ordered it instead and have been happy with it.

 

[Winelover]

I dread the thought of a 3' stick (obvious exaggeration) of "rail" on any gun, ever, at all, BUT the thought has sort of crossed my mind for the Contender Carbine to leave the option open to use peep/dot/scope. Not that I'd have them all mounted at the same time, but I PREFER the peep whenever possible, LOVE that little low-powered variable for most situations, and am leaning hard toward a dot, especially after the comments on this thread.

My main objective in going to the dot would be to cut down on clutter on the little carbine, but I see a lot of benefit in the dot otherwise too. A great deal of the "serious" shooting I do with that gun is under less than ideal lighting conditions, USUALLY closer than I'd prefer to be, and has to be QUICK.

The Rossi 92 I had came with a scope base contoured to the barrel and there were D/T'd holes for it hidden under the rear sight. This required a pistol-scope, but it put just a little mass forward of the middle on the super-light 16" carbine, which I find ideal, and it allowed me to leave the peep base mounted. I did not like having a scope on it, but the peep did not work out as well with a flashlight as the scope, but if you had light BEHIND you, like a porch light, the scope was not so convenient anymore.

I keep coming down on the side of the "dot" the more I roll it over in my head.

I use two different sight/scopes on my Rossi 92 carbine with their proprietary rail. A Vortex 2-7 Scout scope for load development. Otherwise, it wears a Romeo 5 (low base) with the shake-awake feature. Also have a Romeo 5 on my X-bow.

 

[Winelover]

The XS system, including their peep. Front sight was changed to a light pipe option.............I forget what brand. Been a long time. Marlin was Ceracoted. Originally, a much too bright SS. When I rifle hunt, the Marlin usually goes out with me.

 

[Winelover]

Now that I think about it. That accessory rail is from the early days, when XS was branded as AS Sight Systems. I would have to go downstairs and open the vault to verify.

 

[Jeff H]

...

Two things I don’t like about the Taylor ’92 Carbine are the sights and that the receiver is not drilled and tapped for a receiver sight, my preferred rear sight on a lever gun.

...

The safety does suck. Mine did not even work and flopped and rattled.

The other thing - DT'ing the receiver is the easiest one I've ever done. That flat receiver makes it a snap.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I like to have both options available... good peeps to start with -- Them darned u notch sights are getting finicky... and need to try an eyepal... and a method of putting a light fixed 2.5 or 4x on there.

The old 35rem waffletop sc has just a peep, which is plenty for a short range hunting situation... but for longer pokes in the rain/drizzle/overcast... is a bit challenging.

Beartooth bullets had some interesting articles about modifying a weaver rail to fit a peep sighted lever... his discussion covered the 444... and I decided to give that a try on mine.

Gives a best of both worlds option. Peeps in the heavy stuff, scope for long pokes... sorry cw, this might apply more to marlins vs win... but there might be a product which gives you an option... xs sight base??

A 2.5x leupold or weaver is a good option for a lever... trim enough... minor added bulk, but helps get the job done in the adverse conditions.

My 20" Marlin 45 Colt wears a m8 2.5x Leupold.

More pics of the Base.

 

[Jeff H]

That's slick, Brian! Glad someone did this. Nice and clean, simple, no superfluous decoration...

Thanks for sharing this. I'm motivated again to look further into this and even more intent on having another 92 again someday.

 

[dannyd]

Never thought this would work good, but does.

 

[oscarflytyer]

While I DO agree with WL - I hope to go to my grave being able to use the Skinner (and cpl Lyman) peep sight set-ups on all my levers! (Not to mention, I have spent an inordinate amount of $$ on Skinner sights!)

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

If not for the '92 carbine front site... I would have probably been fine with a peep set up. Most all my Marlins have peeps. My Rossi '92 is a "rifle" and has a tang peep. (Front site is std dovetail)

CW

 

[MW65]

Marlin in 35... 1-4 bushnell. Works pretty well...
The Williams works as a ghost ring peep. Excellent for quick shots in the timber we get in the PNW. Scope works great for any longer shots.

 

[Jeff H]

While I DO agree with WL - I hope to go to my grave being able to use the Skinner (and cpl Lyman) peep sight set-ups on all my levers! (Not to mention, I have spent an inordinate amount of $$ on Skinner sights!)

I can certainly appreciate that sentiment and wish for anyone to have that pan out for them. I'm past that point already and can't focus on the from sight of my shorter-barreled guns. Without my glasses, I can see the front sight on a 3" to 5.5" revolver, but a 16" or 18" carbine's front sight eludes me. Even with the "close" sector in my "blended bifocals," it becomes a vague apparition. I figured this out when spotting the hole for a front sight on an 18" carbine. "Glued" the sight on with RTV to spot the hole, got it marked and pulled the gun up only to see what looked like a sleeping bag thrown over a fence-post to dry.

On my 92, I did not LIKE having or using the scope, but I had to, particularly in low/no light. I would use one of the tiny pistol dots on one, just so I could use the gun. I'd still keep the peep, but would also consider going to a 20" barrel to see if that helped with the front sight, even though I loved that short, 16" carbine. I used a cheap Tasco dot-sight on t hat 92 while shopping for the "right" pistol scope and was surprised at how well I could shoot with it. It was uglier than a pimple on a pig's butt, but it worked.

I've done some digging on the Romeo5 @Winelover mentions, and it's not as small and unobtrusive as what I had originally considered, but it sure does get some good reviews from varied sources. The thing that strikes me is that it's so cheap to buy. My logic is that, while it may not be very pretty, it's worth trying anyway, especially at the price. I figured I'd be spending $300 or $400. Of course, they have to offer a AAA version, which is taller and even less pretty, so I am ruminating. I've had to change coin cells in the dark before... Probably not THAT big a deal on this application.

Anyway, this would be going on a Contender Carbine, and given the spacey, racy look they started out with, I may be able to excuse a slightly larger, and I have gone way off on a tangent here, so...

 

[Jeff H]

...
The Williams works as a ghost ring peep. Excellent for quick shots in the timber we get in the PNW. Scope works great for any longer shots.

Nice setup.

Is the peep zeroed at that position, so it's ready to go if you remove the scope/rings?

 

[MW65]

Nice setup.

Is the peep zeroed at that position, so it's ready to go is you remove the scope/rings?

Yuppers!!

 

[Winelover]

The coin battery operated Romeo 5 is the one getting all the good reviews. The AAA battery one is a newer version. No experience with that one. Most Romeo 5's are being used on AR's with the high mount. Be aware that it is offered two ways. One option is with just the high mount. The little more expensive version is with a high and low mount. I use the low mount, on the 357 Rossi. The high mount version is on my X-bow.

The Romeo 1 is the mini-reflex version, if you want/need smaller.

 

[Jeff H]

The coin battery operated Romeo 5 is the one getting all the good reviews. The AAA battery one is a newer version. No experience with that one. Most Romeo 5's are being used on AR's with the high mount. Be aware that it is offered two ways. One option is with just the high mount. The little more expensive version is with a high and low mount. I use the low mount, on the 357 Rossi. The high mount version is on my X-bow.

The Romeo 1 is the mini-reflex version, if you want/need smaller.

Thank you!

I AM still looking, but the one I zeroed in on does have the low mount included. Just haven't found dimensions to indicate centerline of the optic to some datum thereon, which I can to my Weaver base.

The AAA is tempting, as I maintain a healthy supply of Eneloop Ni-MH AAs and AAAs and use them in a lot of things. VERY convenient, BUT that model sits much higher even without the riser, so I think I've ruled it out. For as long at the coin cells seem to last in these, and because you don't have to disassemble anything to replace them, I think it's one picayune detail I can overlook. Balance.

I will also look at the Romeo 1. I looked at the Romeo 3 and the only advantages I saw was size and a wider field of view. Still poking at that point, but am close to "doing this."

 

[358156 hp]

View attachment 27037

Just kidding. I won't tell no one. No matter how badly the beat me, torture me, or withhold ice cream, I won't give you up to the SIG cops. Switching to a similar topic:

 

[fiver]

check NOE.
yeah the mold maker.

 

[Winelover]

Thank you!

I AM still looking, but the one I zeroed in on does have the low mount included. Just haven't found dimensions to indicate centerline of the optic to some datum thereon, which I can to my Weaver base.

The AAA is tempting, as I maintain a healthy supply of Eneloop Ni-MH AAs and AAAs and use them in a lot of things. VERY convenient, BUT that model sits much higher even without the riser, so I think I've ruled it out. For as long at the coin cells seem to last in these, and because you don't have to disassemble anything to replace them, I think it's one picayune detail I can overlook. Balance.

I will also look at the Romeo 1. I looked at the Romeo 3 and the only advantages I saw was size and a wider field of view. Still poking at that point, but am close to "doing this."

Not all Romeo's have the shake awake feature. I'm not sure about the Romeo 3 but be aware.